History of Madison Township, including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio, Part 6

Author: Bareis, George F. (George Frederick), b. 1852
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Canal Winchester, O., G. F. Bareis
Number of Pages: 619


USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Groveport > History of Madison Township, including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio > Part 6


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32


Dr. Hugh L. Chaney 1857-59, 1886-88; Ben L. Reese 1860-62, John G. Edwards 1864-66, Benjamin F. Gayman 1892-94, 1896-98.


Jesse Courtright, a son of Richard Courtright, who lived on the John McGuffy farm, was surveyor of Franklin county for six years, 1848 to 1854. O. P. Chaney served as a member of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, 1880 to 1882. James C. Bowers, now a resident of this township, was also a member of this board from 1890 to 1898, serving one year as President and two years as Treasurer.


George F. Bareis was elected a Trustee of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, of which he is a life member, in 1891, and has been re-elected at the expiration of each term since; was elected a member of .the Executive Committee at each of the


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annual elections since 1895, and was elected second vice president in 1900 and 1901.


John C. Speaks entered the National Guard as a private March 2, 1878, becoming a member of Co. H. 14th Regiment, O. N. G .; First Lieutenant, March 5, 1880; Captain, March 20, 1883; Major, November 8, 1889; Colonel, July 28, 1899; Brigadier-General, De- cember 5, 1899. Mustered into the United States ser- vice (Spanish-American War) as Major of the 4th Regiment, O. V. I., May 9, 1898; participated in the Porto Rican expedition, and was mustered out with the regiment January 20, 1899.


Edward Merritt Hughes, son of Abram A. Hughes (a merchant who settled in Groveport in May, 1860), was born at Lockbourne, Ohio, on July 26, 1866. He was appointed a cadet at large to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., graduating on June 7, 1870. He passed through the grades of En- sign, Master, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, and on March 3, 1901, was commissioned Commander in the United States navy.


He was with Commodore George Dewey at the bat- tle of Manila Bay May 1, 1898, as executive officer of the U. S. S. Petrel, and personally burned the five fol- lowing Spanish war vessels: "Isla de Cuba," "Isla de Lwyow," "Don Juan de Austria," "Marquis del Duero," and the "Don Antonio d'Ulloa."


In a letter written by Commander Wood, of the Petrel, October 1, 1898, to Col. George A. Loud, and published in The Century Magazine, the following ref- erence to Lieut. Hughes is made: "When the Span- ish flag was hauled down at the arsenal the Petrel was within three hundred yards of the arsenal dock and anchored. There she remained until 5:20 p. m .. and


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with one boat's crew burned seven vessels of war in the face of the military garrison in Cavite and the rem- nants of the crews that had been forced into infantry companies, armed with Mauser rifles. Had they chosen to resist they could have supported their in- fantry fire with artillery, as the smooth-bore guns mounted at the arsenal were loaded and would have done damage to the ships at the short range. The only boat immediately available to burn and destroy the enemy's ships was a small whaleboat carrying an offi- cer and seven men. With this boat Lieutenant Hughes, the executive officer, landed at the arsenal to place a signalman, and proceeded to burn five of the seven ships. The two remaining were burned later by Ensign Fermier. * The action of Lieutenant Hughes in setting fire to the enemy's sunken ships in the face of a well armed superior, but demoralized force, was the one act of conspicuous gallantry which the battle that day afforded."


We must also include Judge John Chaney, who was a citizen of Madison Township for many years prior to his death, although his official career was in Bloom Township, Fairfield county. The following statement of his public services was made by Mr. Cha- ney for Dr. Scott's History of Fairfield County, and is unique: "I was elected Justice of the Peace in 1821, 1824, and in 1827, serving in all three terms, or nine years. I served as Township Trustee twenty-three years. In the Ohio militia, old system, I served at va- rious times as Major, Colonel and Paymaster.


"In the years 1828, 1829 and 1830 I was elected to the Legislature as Representative of Fairfield county. In the spring of 1831 the Legislature elected me as one of the Associate Judges of Fairfield county.


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"In the fall of 1832 I was elected to the Lower House of Congress, from the district composed of Fairfield, Perry and Morgan counties. Was re- elected from the same district in 1834 and in 1836. In 1842 I was again returned to the Ohio Legislature, Lower House, and at that session elected Speaker. In 1844 I was elected to the Ohio Senate, the term being two years; and again in 1855 returned to the Lower House. In 1832 my friends placed my name on the Presidential electoral ticket, and I had the honor of helping to make Andrew Jackson President of the United States. In 1851 I was a member of the con- stitutional convention that framed the present consti- tution of the State of Ohio. I am now within a few days of the close of my eighty-eighth year, and in the enjoyment of good health." Dr. Scott adds: "From the friends and long acquaintance of Judge Chaney, I have received the information that never once during his public life did he solicit office."


Justices of the Peace.


The year indicates the date of election: Ebenezer Richards, 1810; George Hays, 1810; Billingsly Bull, 1810. 1817, 1820, 1823: Wm. D. Hendren, 1811, 1824; Elijah Austin, 1811; Elisha Decker, 1815; Emmer Cox, 1817; James McLish, 1817; Nicholas Goeches. 1820, 1823; Wm. Godman, 1820, 1823; Jacob Gander, 1825, 1828; John Swisher, 1826, 1835; Wm. Patter- son, 1826, 1829, 1832; A. Shoemaker, 1829, 1832, 1841 ; Alexander Cameron, 1831, 1834, 1837, 1840, 1843; Isaac Decker, 1835; W. W. Kile, 1838, 1847, 1850 (resigned in March, 1852), 1860, 1864, 1867; James Pearcy. 1838: John Courtright. 1841; John Cox, 1844, 1870; Wm. Mason, 1844; Joshua Glan-


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JOHN CHANEY. Jan. 12, 1790 - April 10, 1881.


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HUGH L. CHANEY, M. D. Aug. 20, 1820 - Feb. 96, 1902.


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HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.


ville, 1846 (resigned September, 1847) ; Moses Sey- mour, 1847, 1850; Jeremiah White, 1852; Henry Nicodemus, 1852; M. K. Earhart, 1853, 1863; Joshua Stevenson, 1855; Z. P. Thompson, 1855, 1858; John Helpman, 1856, 1859, 1862, 1865; James B. Evans, 1868, 1871, 1874, 1877, 1880, 1883; Fernando M. Senter, 1873, 1876, 1878 (resigned September 12, 1878); Lemuel Sarber, 1878 (resigned March 8, 1880) ; Milton Cummins, 1880, 1883, 1889; B. F. Gayman, 1886, 1889 (resigned July, 1890). At a spe- cial election July 19, 1890, W. Scott Alspach was elected, re-elected 1893-1896, and served until his death, December 9, 1897; Cornelius Black, Jr., 1892; O. P. Crist, 1898, 1901 ; Edward V. Bush, special elec- tion January 12, 1898, 1901.


Trustees.


The following is a list of the Township Trustees, .. beginning with 1849: Jesse Seymour, 1849-1862; Edward Courtright, 1849; Wm. T. Decker, 1849-1850, Joshua Glanville, 1851 ; John Helpman, 1852-1860, 1863-1865; John Cox, 1852-1862; Moses Seymour, 1861-1868, 1875, 1877-1879; Mr. Seymour died Octo- ber 1, 1879; Kalite Sallee, 1863-1873, 1875-1876, 1886; Elias Decker, 1866-1874, 1878-1881 ; O. Codner, 1869- 1870; Phillip C. Tussing, 1871-1872; Jacob Rohr, 1873-1874; S. H. Whims, 1874; John S. Lehman, 1875-1876; Charles Rohr, 1876-1877; Wm. Sims, 1877-1879, 1893-1895; Andrew Wilson, 1880-1882; Absalom Rohr, 1880, 1883-1884; John F. Kile, 1881- 1884; Geo. W. Lisle, 1882-1885; Andrew D. Kraner, 1885-1890; Benj. C. Sims, 1885, 1888-1891 ; Edward A. Peters, 1886-1891 ; Mc. C. Seymour, 1887-1901 ; George Sallee, 1889-1891 ; Daniel Detwiler, 1891 (re- 6 HMT


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signed March 6, 1893) ; Jeremiah Kramer, 1892-1900; Goodlove Dorrer, 1895 (resigned March 1, 1897) ; John F. Bachman, 1897; Wm. M. Long, 1897-1900; John G. Rohr, 1898-1901 ; Albert Bachman, 1900-1901.


Township Clerks.


Jacob A. Taylor, 1849-1851 ; Lemuel Sarber, 1852; Jeremiah White, 1853-1854; Robert F. Dildine, 1855- 1859, 1861-1867, 1871, 1881-1883; J. H. Fearn, 1850; Fernando M. Senter, 1868-1870; C. Black, Jr., 1872- 1880; A. M. Senter, 1884-1889; Charles D. Rarey, 1890-1897; Phillip C. Tussing, 1898-1901.


Township Treasurers.


Jacob Weaver, 1849-1850; Samuel Sharp, 1851- 1854; Geo. McCormick, 1855; Dr. G. L. Smith, 1856- 1859: Samuel Sharp, 1860-1863; H. W. Dunn, 1864- 1865; Mr. Dunn died in the spring of 1866; Wm. W. Kile, 1866-1869; S. Allen Peters, 1870-1873; John F. Kile, 1874-1879; John F. Wildermuth, 1880-1884; John L. Chaney, 1885-1893; Wm. R. Smith, 1893- 1901.


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Constables.


Jacob Weaver, 1849; G. W. Myers, 1849; J. J. Needels, 1850; G. Nafzger, 1850; E. B. Decker, 1851- 1854; John H. Heston, 1851-1852; Lemuel Sarber, 1853: Jacob Stimmel, 1854-1856; Elias Decker, 1855- 1862; John Gehm, 1857-1859; Rufus W. Bailey, 1860; Jonathan Watson, 1861-1862; G. S. Dildine, 1863, 1867-1868, 1873-1875, 1877-1878, 1880-1881 : S. W. Dildine, 1863; John A. Kile, 1864-1867, 1882-1885 ; John Colman, 1884: E. M. Strode, 1865-1866, 1886- 1889: James McKelvey, 1868-1869; G. W. Rowland, 1869-1870; Levi Kramer, 1870-1872, 1875-1876; B.


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C. Sims, 1871-1874, 1879; W. R. Kauffman, 1876- 1877; Wm. Schrock, 1878-1880, 1882-1883; B. F. Trine, 1881 ; C. L. Kraner, 1882; M. E. Schrock, 1884; James Palsgrove, 1885-1889, 1890-1893; Chas. D. Rarey, 1888-1889; J. V. Conklin, 1890-1891, 1894- 1900; Joseph P. Rager, 1891-1893; Edward V. Bush, 1894-1896; Sylvester Carruthers, 1897-1901 ; Samuel Rush, 1900-1901.


Assessors.


Jacob Weaver, 1849-1850; Moses Seymour, 1851, 1852, 1856; Elisha B. Decker, 1853, 1854; Henry Long, 1855, 1858-1862; John G. Edwards, 1857; Ja- cob Bishop, 1863-1867; Milton Cummins, 1868, 1869; M. K. Earhart, 1870-1877; G. S. Dildine, 1878, 1879. Since 1880 there have been two Assessors. For Grove- port Precinct : G. S. Dildine, 1880, 1881 ; M. K. Ear- hart, 1882-1884; Chas. P. Long, 1885, 1886, 1888; John A. Kile, 1887; I. R. Earhart, 1889-1891 ; Samuel Stukey, 1891-1896, 1898-1901; Richard Copeland, 1897. Winchester Precinct: Phil C. Tussing, 1880- 1882; Jacob Bishop, 1883; R. J. Tussing, 1884; P. C. Tussing, 1885; John Chaney, Jr., 1886; Milton Cummins, 1887-1888; John D. Bishop, 1889, 1893- 1895, 1897-1901 ; David Boyer, 1890; James P. Kalb, 1891-1892; Amor R. Smith, 1896.


The office of Township Ditch Supervision was cre- ated by the Legislature of 1899-1900, and on Septem- ber 3, 1900, the Trustees of Madison Township ap- pointed Edward A. Peters to fill the office. Mr. Peters was then elected in April, 1901, and resigned on July 26, 1901. Madison Township was the first in the State to have a Township Ditch Supervisor. Clint A. Stev- enson was appointed to fill the vacancy, and assumed the duties of the office on August 11, 1901. The De-


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HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.


cenial Land Appraisers have been: Thomas Patter- son, 1870 and 1880; Edward A. Peters, 1890; James P. Kalb, 1900.


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CHAPTER XI.


SCHOOLS OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.


" Time comes not yet to mow you down, He points to wisdom's lofty fane, He bids youth win the golden crown, Which patient, earnest toil may gain. He lends the precious hours, and cries Seize every moment as it flies."


-CUTTER in U. S. School Primer, Edition of 1846.


The early settlers of this township were in hearty sympathy with the ordinance of 1787, which pro- claimed that "Religion, morality, and knowledge being the essentials of good government, schools and the means of education should be forever encouraged ;" and also with the State constitution of 1802, which de- clared "that schools and the means of instruction should be encouraged by legislative provision, not in- consistent with the rights of conscience."


Congress by an "Act," or several "Acts," called "The Compact," passed April 30, 1802, made the fol- lowing provision: "That the following propositions be and the same are hereby offered to the conventions of the Eastern States of said territory (Northwest) ; that the section No. 16 in every township, and where such section has been sold, granted, or disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto, the most contiguous to the same, shall be granted to the inhabitants of such


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township for the maintenance of the schools within said township."


In 1803 it was enacted that the sections 16 should be leased for a term not exceeding fifteen years. The rent for every quarter section of one hundred and sixty acres was to consist in making the following improve- ments : "Fifteen acres cleared of all timber and other wood and fenced in separate fields, one field of five acres to be sowed in grass, one of three acres to be planted with 100 thrifty and growing apple trees and the remaining seven acres to be arable land. These improvements to be made within the first five years of the lease." These leases were made by agents ap- pointed by the Governor, who were to give public no- tice and were to receive bids and execute the leases to those who would agree to make the improvements re- quired, for the shortest term of lease. Two years later, in 1805, this law was amended so that the Township trustees were authorized to grant these leases for terms not exceeding 15 years. It was made the duty of the trustees "to see that the proceeds arising from the lease be duly and impartially applied to the education of youths, within the particular surveyed township, in such a manner that all the citizens resident therein may be equal partakers of the benefits thereof."


In 1806 the law of 1805 was amended, incorporat- ing every original surveyed township, and provided for the election of a board of three Trustees and a Treasurer, and the power to grant leases was also transferred to these boards.


For many years nothing, or comparatively little was realized from these leases towards the support of the schools, so in 1824 the General Assembly of Ohio sent a "memorial" to Congress, asking the consent of Con-


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gress to sell the sections sixteen. Among the reasons cited were: "That persons renting lands were usually in destitute circumstances which made the collection of the rent uncertain; the tenants were of the lowest class of the community, having no permanent interest in the soil; such persons wasted the timber, so that the loss was equal to or greater than the revenue; Such persons, by the right of franchise exert a perni- cious influence on the neighborhood." In 1827 the Legislature passed an "Act" which provided for the sale of section No. 16. It was made the duty of the County Assessor to take the vote of all white male in- habitants over twenty-one years of age and report the result to the General Assembly. When no vote was taken or when a majority voted against a sale, another vote might be taken in any subsequent year. These provisions for the sale of section 16 applied to the leased as well as to the unleased lands. Every owner of a lease might surrender his lease and then purchase the land at the last appraisement. In this way many of these sections were sold for much less than their value. It will be noticed that it was immediately af- ter this law was passed that Montgomery, Truro, Ham- ilton and Violet Townships sold their school lands. Since 1852 the sale of these lands is under the con- trol of the School Trustees and the Probate Court. The greater part have been sold-less than one-eighth of the original surveyed townships now own any school lands. Fortunately Madison retained her section, be- ing one among the very few townships who still own a whole section. In connection with the provisions for the sale of the school lands it was the duty of the Auditor of State to keep a separate account of all mon- ies paid into the State Treasury from the sale of these


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HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.


lands, crediting each sum to the proper original sur- veyed township; the money so collected is to consti- tute an "irreducible fund" for the support of the com- mon schools within said township. "All monies so paid into the State Treasury shall bear an annual in- terest of 6 per cent., payable on the first day of January of each year;" "and the faith of the State of Ohio is hereby pledged for the annual payment." For some reason the school lands of Hamilton, Montgomery and Truro Townships, as well as Madison, were all lo- cated in this township.


Hamilton Township was granted section No. 22, being Range 21, Township II; the sale of this sec- tion aggregated $3,026. Montgomery Township was granted section No. 21, Range 21, Township II; the proceeds of the sale aggregated $2,716. Truro Town. ship was granted section No. 15, Range 21, Township II; the sale of this section amounted to $1,810. Vio- let Township, Fairfield county, was granted section No. 15, in lieu of section 16, Range 20, Township 15, being located in Violet Township; this sale aggregated $1,217.36.


In 1900 Hamilton Township received from this source $180.33; Montgomery, $161.33; Truro. $107.52, and Violet $999.89. Section No. 16, Madison Township, rented for a term of three years - 1897- 1899 - for $10.357.50, or an average of $3,452.50 per year; $1,422.75 was expended in improvements re- pairs and other expenses - an average of $474.25 per year - leaving $8,934.75, which was applied to de- fray the expenses of maintaining the schools, being an average of $2,978.25 per year, or of $4.65 net per acre per year. On the above basis of the net income for the past term of three years, the average value of this


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Sept. 15, 1810.


JAMES B. EVANS.


March 5, 1838.


REV. JAMES HEFFLEY.


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land is fixed at an equivalent of $78.00 per acre. Could this land be sold for an average price of $100.00 per acre, as some claim, then the net income would be $6.00 per acre, or an aggregate of $3,840 per year.


Scholars living in the territory that formerly be- longed to Violet Township, Fairfield county, or to the two southern tiers of sections, which formerly belonged to Ross county, do not participate in Madison Town- ship's funds - although they are now, for civil pur- poses, part of Madison - but in the income from the proceeds of their respective school lands.


The following table gives the details of the sale of the several township's lands, as the same appears upon the Auditor of State's records :


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HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, RANGE 21, TOWNSHIP 11, SECTION 22.


Date of Sale.


Purchaser.


Part Sold.


No. Acres.


Appraised


Value.


Sale Price.


Dec. 20, 1830


Joseph Decker.


W. >2 S. W ..


80


$270 00


$505 00


20, 1830


Harmon Dildine. "


E. 12 S. W ...


80


270 00


560 00


20,1830


W. 12 S. E ....


80


300 00


560


00


20,1830


W. H. Richardson


E. 1/2 S. E ....


80


140


00


165 00


15, 1834.


Harmon Dildine.


E. 1/2 N. E ...


80)


270 00


460 00


15, 1834.


James Swisher.


W. 12 N. E .


80


270 00


420


00


15, 1828 . . ..


John Mossman .


E. 12 N. W. . .


80


200 00


200 00


John Mossman and T. C. Hendren. .


W. 12 N. W


80


160 00


166 00


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MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, RANGE 21, TOWNSHIP 11 SECTION 21.


Dec.


15, 1828


Adam Sarber ..


W. 12 N. W ... |


80


340 00


413 00


15, 1828. .


John Swisher. "


E. 12 N. W. .. W. 1/2 N. E


80


380 00


458 00


15, 1828 ..


"


"


"


E. 12 N. E ... W. 12 S. W ..


80 80


240 00


426 00


15, 1828


"


E. X2 S. W


80


180 00


301 00


15, 1828


W. 12 S. E. .


80


150 00


160 00


15, 1828


Benj. Clevinger. Adam Rarey .


E. % S. E


80


100 00


100 00


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HISTORY OF MADISON


TOWNSHIP.


456 00


15, 1828


200 00


402 00


15, 1828.


Adam Rarey


. ..


1


80


250 00


. .


.


15, 1828 .


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TRURO TOWNSHIP, RANGE 21, TOWNSHIP 11, SECTION 15.


Date of Sale.


Purchaser.


Part Sold.


No. Acres.


Appraised Value.


Sale Price.


Dec. 15, 1828


John Kile


W. I. S. W . . .


80


$160 00


$240 00


15, 1828


E. K S. W . ..


80


160


00


206 00


15, 1828


Jacob Coble


W. % S. E .


80


160 00


231 00


"


15, 1828.


E. 12 S. E


80


160 00


187 00


15, 1828 . .


Richard House "


E. / N. W ..


80


160 00


235 00


15, 1828. .


W. 12 N. W ...


80


160 00


351 00


Jan.


19, 1829


Abraham Shoemaker .


E. / N. E .. .


80


160 00


160 00


Sept. 6, 1829


John Todd ..


W. 12 N. E ...


80


160 00


200 00


VIOLET TOWNSHIP, RANGE 20, TOWNSHIP 15, SECTION 15.


Feb. 19, 1831


Abraham Pickering.


E. 1/2 N. E ..


$120 00


May 14, 1831 ..


=


"


W. 12 N. E .


125 47


E. 12 N. W. . .


129 69


14, 1831.


"


W. 12 N. W. .


123 72


March 3, 4832. .


Chancy Ricketts.


N. K S. W .


228 05


Aug. 3, 1833. .


J. W. Fisher Chancy Ricketts


S. 1% S. W .


313 48


Dec. 11, 1833.


N. 12 S. E ..


131 42


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MADISON


TOWNSHIP.


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14. 1831 .


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HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.


Up to 1825 the schools received no State aid, and their efficiency depended largely upon the estimation ·of an education held by the local community, conse- 'quently some neighborhoods had much better school fa- cilities than others. In January, 1825, a law was en- acted establishing a uniform system for the common schools of the State, and at each successive meeting of the Legislature amendments and improvements were enacted until on February 10, 1829, a new "Bill" em- bodying in the main the best features of former "Acts" and adding some entirely new provisions, was en- acted. This law embodies the leading features by which the public school system of the State has ever 'since been executed. According to its provision the Trustees of each and every incorporated township are required to divide it into a suitable number of districts, in each of which, annually the householders shall choose three School Directors whose duty it shall be to em- ploy teachers, levy local taxes, etc. Another feature was the levying of a tax of three-fourths of a mill on each dollar of the valuation by the State for the sup- port of the school. The schools at once began to im- prove. The management being left entirely in the keeping of the local directors, different methods were adopted in different districts; in some schools were held eight or nine months in the year; in others only during the winter months. Usually a male teacher was employed for the winter months, and a female dur- ing the summer term, while the larger scholars were otherwise employed. In some districts the tuition was all raised by levy, in others one-half by taxation and the balance by subscription.


In 1853 an entire reorganization of the school dis- trict system was enacted. Each township was made a


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HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.


school district, and the districts previously established became sub-districts, and the management of the schools and the power of taxation passed to the Town- ship Board of Education then created. This board consists of one member from each sub-district.


At first there was no one to judge of a teacher's fit- ness and qualification but the parents. The law of 1825. provided that the Court of Common Pleas annually ap- point three suitable persons whose duty it was to ex- amine every person wishing to teach. Since 1853 the Probate Court appoints the examiners. No person, since 1825, could receive any money from the public treasury, as wages for teaching, without a certificate.


Very little information can now be obtained about the teachers for the first twenty-five or thirty years, only that they went from house to house soliciting schol- ars for "subscription schools;" the price of tuition per scholar depending upon the number that could be se- cured. The cash required was a small sum, as a large. part of the tuition was paid in board and lodging; each scholar was required to furnish entertainment their share of the time. Many of these early teachers left the impress of their morals, patriotism and devo- tion for the higher attainments of life indelibly stamped upon those who came under their molding influence. Scholars had few books, often only a leaf of a Bible or other book pasted on a thin board. Frequently lit- tle or no attention was paid to the education of the girls. There were no "sweet girl graduates" in those. days, with costly outfits, extravagance of flowers, etc., which sometimes in these days makes a parent ques- tion if free education is not a contradiction.


Nevertheless, some girls were ambitious to acquire the best education possible, so sometimes they had to


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study clandestinely. The late Mrs. N. Tallman re- lated to the writer her experience; her parents were willing that she should learn to "spell, read and cipher," but were opposed to her learning to write, and forbade the teacher instructing her in the art. This made her all the more anxious and determined to learn, and the teacher was willing to instruct her. Some time after- wards her father called at the school house and found her in the act of writing. When he began to take the teacher to task for disregarding his wish, he only replied: "Yes, I have taught your daughter to write, and you can't take it away from her."




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